Chapter 3

The moment these words fell to Julian's ears, he quickly stood up from his chair. He pulled the chair and sat next to me. He grabbed my hands and placed them gently on his.

“You are pregnant, and you didn't tell me about it?” He said, his voice laced with excitement and his eyes shining brightly. “Y-You shouldn't be sitting like this. You should be resting. Don't exhaust yourself. Let me feed you instead.”

With that, he quickly poured the nutritious soup into my bowl and began feeding me with his hands. “You should eat more. Just look at your body, how thin you have been looking recently.”

He first blew the soup before pushing the spoon into my mouth, making sure it was not too hot. Clara’s face instantly turned dark. Even the mask of feigned excitement on her face couldn't hide the jealousy beneath.

“Congratulations, Izzy.” She said,

“From now on, I’ll not go anywhere.” Julian began, “I’ll stay with you the whole day and take care of you.”

A day ago, if he had whispered the same words to me, I would already have melted into his arms, telling him how lucky I was to have him as my partner.

But today I knew his true face. The love and the care he was showering me with were only his investment for the golden egg. Inside my womb, he didn't see a symbol of our love, but a trophy to his inheritance.

I gently pushed his hands off me as I turned to look at Brinda. “You are mistaken, Mom. I went there because of issues with my periods. That's it. No one is pregnant here.”

The moment Julian realised I was not pregnant, the shift in his expression was visible. He became quiet, not even looking at me. Clara seemed to be satisfied with the news while Brinda charged at me.

“You have been married to my son for three months, yet you are still childless. What's the benefit of freeloading you if you can't even give my son an heir?”

“It would be better if he divorces you and brings someone else,” she spat. She was always like this, picking on me even if I breathed. After all this time, I grew to tolerate her.

Occasionally, I felt bad after Julian’s calmness over her mother’s remarks. But after I decided to leave him, it didn't affect me anymore.

When the dinner was finished and they had their family time, completely ignoring me as if I didn't even exist, Julian stood up to leave. I walked closely behind him, not that I was so attached to him, but I wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

But Julian stopped me in the middle. “I’m leaving for a business trip, Izzy. It will last for a whole week.”

“Mom just told me she is feeling uneasy lately. You stay with her. I’ll come to pick you up when I’m back.”

“Julian, No!” I refused, “You know how much your mother resents me, and you are leaving me to her?”

At first, I thought it was good for me that Julian was leaving for his business trip. In that case, I could escape him easily. I didn't have to put up with the act of a foolish wife who had no idea about his affairs. But, I could not risk my life living with his mother, especially when I had a life within me. She would not spare a chance, making things difficult for me.

“It's your time to win her heart, and you are throwing it away?” He seemed agitated. “Next time, don't complain; my mother doesn't like you if you put no effort into her.”

No matter how much I tried to convince him, he just didn't listen and left me all by myself.

Later that night, when Brinda had her time making me clean all the dirty dishes and her laundry, she offered me a servant quarter to stay.

As I fell to the hard mattress lying against the cold marble, my phone began buzzing non-stop.

It was Clara. Her audacity. She was sending me dozens of pictures. Wrapped in a silk robe, her chest was exposed, and she was lying above Julian. His hands seemed to be moving on her waist.

She texted. [Julian is not on a business trip, sweetheart. He is with me, enjoying our third honeymoon after the divorce.]

[Since you failed to give him an offspring, just pack your luggage. He is never going to pick you up.]

[Oh, by the way! I have left a surprise for you. Hope you discover it soon.]